Page 71 of Captivated

Jim Omerod’s gaze grew cold. “I guess now I know what you were doing there, don’t I?” His face tightened. “I was right. You’re just as sick as Mark was. And I’m not going to stand hear and listen to another word.” He gave Nate a shove, propelling him out onto the porch where he staggered, losing his footing.

The door slammed shut.

The flashing lights in the street were no surprise. Two officers approached, but Nate was spent, his voice gone, his adrenaline run dry. He barely heard a word they said or felt the cuffs, and a heartbeat later he sat on the cold bench in the back of the cruiser, Mark’s childhood home growing smaller behind him. Only one thought echoed in his skull.

Mark is gone, and they’re still lying.

Ontario’s police department was located within City Hall. Once Nate had been led inside and his details taken down, the police sergeant told him he could make one call before they took him to a holding cell.

Dad is going to freak.

He dialed the number, his hands shaking. After five or six rings, Dad answered, his voice heavy with sleep. “’Lo? Who is this?”

Nate swallowed. “Dad, it’s Nate. I… I’m at the police department in Ontario, in Oregon.”

Silence fell with a thud. “Oregon? What on earth are you doing there? And what did you do?”

“It’s a long story. Dad… I need you.” All the fight had gone out of him, and he was resisting the urge to cry.

A second later, his dad’s firm voice filled Nate’s ear. “I’m on my way.” He hung up.

Nate replaced the receiver. An officer ushered him to the holding cell where he sat under flickering lights alone, staring at the stains on the wall.

I fucked up.

Except part of him knew he’d made the trip to confront them not for himself, but for Mark. Questions bombarded him, for which there were no answers.

When did Mark leave that place?

What was his life like once he got home?

After meeting Mark’s parents, Nate already had an idea about that last one.

He closed his eyes, but despite his exhaustion, sleep eluded him. He had no idea of the time: there was no clock in the cell, and his phone had been taken from him.

What happens now?

Are they going to charge me?

His thoughts raced, a tumult of stark emotions and rising panic.

“Caldwell.”

He jumped. An officer stood in the doorway, beckoning. Nate stood, his legs weak, and followed him to the main desk.

Dad stood there, and his relieved expression tightened Nate’s chest. He walked over to him, and without a word, Dad held his arms wide. Nate stepped into the comforting circle and Dad enfolded him in a hug.

“Are you okay?”

Nate managed a nod. “Tired. That’s all.” A fatigue that had seeped into his bones. His eyes were hot with tears he couldn’t shed.

“You don’t have to tell me anything. I got it all from the duty officer.”

“And what did he tell you?”

Dad frowned. “To be honest, it didn’t make a lot of sense. Something about you going to someone’s house, waking them up, and acting in a threatening manner. Which doesn’t sound like you at all.”

Nate huffed. “That’s because you don’t know the whole story.” Not that he was surprised.If they wouldn’t admit Mark was gay to me, they sure as shit wouldn’t say a word about that to the cops.